Mohammadian Closes Olympic Ticket for Iran; USA Shines at Poland Open

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 - 21:49 By Vinay Siwach

WARSAW, Poland (June 8) -- Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) had to wait until the final bout of the day but it was worth it as he successfully captured the gold medal at the Poland Open Ranking Series event in Warsaw.

The value of this gold medal increased as he also won the right to represent Iran at the Tokyo Olympics after beating two of his compatriots during his title-winning run on Tuesday.

Iran is treating the Poland Open as a selection tournament for the three freestyle and one Greco-Roman weight classes.

At 97kg, Mohammadian captured the spot after he beat Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) and Ali Khalil SHABANIBENGAR (IRI) with little separation in both the bouts.

“Thank God I was able to win,” Mohammadian said. “This is not the biggest day for me but I am happy.”

Apart from Iran's selection, the Tokyo seeds were confirmed in three weight classes as the final ranking points for 57kg, 86kg and 97kg were finalized on Tuesday.

Mohammadian's gold may not have been enough for a seed in the weight class at the Olympics, but it ended a long wait of Iran finalizing the wrestler at the weight. He won the quota in dominating fashion at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in April.

But Shabanibengar's wins over him earlier this year and Karmimachiani's record at 92kg made them contenders as well. Instead of hosting a trial back home, the Iranian Federation decided to send the wrestler to Warsaw for a face-off. The winner would be selected for the Olympic team.

The stage was set when Karimimachiani and Mohammadian were drawn on the same side while Shabanibengar was split to the upper half. Mohammadian began with an 11-0 thrashing of Kollin MOORE (USA) in the qualification, while Karimimachiani overcame Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA), 11-1, in the quarterfinal. Earlier in the day, the Italian upset Olympic champion Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) for a 2-2 criteria win.

Mohammadian's 10-0 win over Serik BAKYTKHANOV (KAZ) put him in the semifinal. He began with a takedown and secured a 2-0 lead. Karimimachiani's one point for passivity and a step out tied it 2-2, but Mohammadian held the criteria to set up a final against Shabanibengar.

It was anti-climatic as both wrestlers played it safe. They exchanged a point each for passivity but it was Mohammadian who was awarded one in the second period which gave him the win.

“I have been wrestling with Shabanibengar since cadet-level and I know his style,” he said. “Before becoming here I had strategized a lot and thankfully it paid off.”

At 57kg, Serbian Olympian Stevan MICIC (SRB) won his second Ranking Series gold medal in convincing fashion. He outscored Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) and Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB), 18-3, and was awarded the 57kg Nordic style gold medal.

Micic, who came into the tournament at the third-seeded wrestler for the Tokyo Olympic Games, passed second-seeded Sueyman ATLI (TUR) for the second spot in Tokyo.

“I felt really good today,” he said. “At this tournament, I just wanted to get my weight down to 57kg and go to the Olympics after a strong competition. The gold medal is always a boost in confidence.”

The top-four seeds at 57kg for Tokyo are Zavur UGUEV (RUS), Micic, Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and Ravi KUMAR (IND), respectively.

“I wasn't sure about the seeds so it was better to just compete,” he said. “I have a lot of confidence in my ability and it doesn't matter where I am seeded. I will have four tough matches in order to win at the Olympics.”

Micic defeated Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) and Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB) in the two matches to win the gold medal.

Stevan MICIC

USA also had a field day as they captured two gold medals. Zahid VALENCIA (USA) added another Ranking Series gold as he dominated the 86kg weight category.

“I started off a little bit slow but I am happy with how I ended it,” he said. “More offense, more takedowns is what I am looking for.”

Valencia survived a scare against local boy Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) and won 6-5 before an injury default by world silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) gave him a spot in the semifinal. Myles AMINE (SMR) was up next in the semifinal but Valencia had an easy 7-1 win.

In the 86kg finals, Zahid VALENCIA (USA) claimed his second Ranking Series title with a 10-0 trouncing of Georgia’s Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO). The bleach blonde-haired American scored five first-period takedowns and ended the match less than two minutes into the finals.

But with David TAYLOR (USA) going to the Olympics, it was just the points for Valencia but not for the Olympics.

“[I am looking for] experience,” he said. “I am still young and could not make the Olympic team this year. It is still a goal of mine. I wanted to get matches and see how foreigners wrestle.”

The close first bout did upset Valencia but he is keen on working on his skills to not give up easy points.

“I got taken down,” he said. “I was working on my offense and defense. I did not want to over wrestle and expose myself.”

Also at 86kg, Myles AMINE (SMR) beat Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) in the bronze medal match and leaped Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) for the No. 3 seed at the Olympic Games.

Amine came into the competition with 40 points -- seven points behind his Russian nemesis -- but used his ten-point bronze medal to move to the opposite side of the bracket as top-seeded Olympic champion Hasan YAZDANI (IRI).

The Olympic seeds at 86kg are Yazdani), Punia, Amine and Naifonov, respectively.

Another American with a big day was Alec PANTALEO (USA) who plowed his way to a fourth consecutive gold medal with a career-defining win over three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE), before capping things off with a win over rival James GREEN (USA) in the 70kg finals.

Alec PANTALEO df Haji ALIYEV

In the semifinals, Pantaleo cruised out to an early 6-1 lead over Aliyev thanks to a takedown and a four-point move. But the Azeri clawed back in the second period and tied the match, 6-6. The American’s first-period fought off a late flurry of attacks and used his four-point move to push himself into the finals.

In the gold-medal match, Pantaleo jumped out to an early four-point advantage against two-time world-medal winner James Green. He scored both early takedowns on head inside single legs to Green’s right leg. Pantaleo surrendered a takedown and a stepout in the second period, but hung on to win his fourth consecutive competition, 5-3.

At 79kg, Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) scored a last-second takedown to beat veteran Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) 2-2 in the final and claim the gold medal.

RESULTS:

57kg
GOLD - Stevan Andria MICIC (SRB) (2-0)
SILVER - Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) (1-1)
BRONZE - Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB) (0-2)

70kg
GOLD - Alec William PANTALEO (USA) df. James GREEN (USA), 5-3
BRONZE - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), 2-1

79kg
GOLD - Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) df. Rashid KURBANOV (UZB), 2-2
BRONZE - Mateusz KAMPIK (POL) df. Vadim PETRAUSKAS BABUSKIN (LTU), 16- 13
BRONZE - Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Aimar ANDRUSE (EST), 5-2

86kg
GOLD - Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE - Cezary SADOWSKI (POL) df. Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER), 8-4
BRONZE - Myles AMINE (SMR) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), 6-1

97kg
GOLD - Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) df. Ali SHABANIBENGAR (IRI), 1-1
BRONZE - Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) df. Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), via fall
BRONZE - Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI)df. Kollin Raymond MOORE (USA), 2-2

#WrestleZagreb

Valencia stuns Ghasempour in semis; Uguev returns to final

Saturday, September 13, 2025 - 21:05 By Ken Marantz

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 13) -- It was supposed to be the anointing of Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) as the successor to legendary compatriot Hassan YAZDANI at freestyle 86kg. Instead it turned out to be the introduction of Zahid VALENCIA (USA) as a new force on the scene.

In a battle between wrestlers who moved down this year from 92kg, Valencia put on a stunning display of disciplined wrestling to knock off Ghasempour 7-0 in the semifinals on Saturday, the opening day of the World Championships in Zagreb.

"I was prepared," Valencia said. "I felt comfortable knowing I did everything I could to prepare for this World Championships.

"If I wrestle like that, I'm the best in the world. No one can score like me. No one could shut out defense like me. I could score from anywhere. So I'm very confident in myself."

Iran, along with Japan, still put two wrestlers into Sunday's finals of the four weight classes in action, while it took a former Olympic champion to finally end the amazing run of an American high schooler who stole the show during the morning session.

Zahid VALENCIA (USA) defeated Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) 7-0 in the 86kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Ghasempour had long been biding his time at 92kg, winning back-to-back world titles at that weight in 2021 and 2022 while Yazdani dominated 86kg in a fierce rivalry with David TAYLOR (USA). With Yazdani sidelined following his injury-hit loss in the Paris Olympic final, Ghasempour was ready to seize the chance to shine at the Olympic weight.

Not so fast, said Valencia, who had a world bronze at 92kg from 2023 to his credit. Both wrestlers prepped for Zagreb with victories at 86kg at the Ranking Series events this year, Khasempour in Tirana and Valencia in Zagreb.

Back in the same Arena Zagreb on Saturday, Valencia earned an activity point before chalking up two takedowns to take a 5-0 lead into the break. He added two stepouts in the second period while twice wiggling out of low singles by the Iranian to clinch the victory.

"I'm out there moving fake and snap, and there's just no time for my opponents to grab a hold of me taken in a shot," Valencia said. "And even when they do, it's one thing getting in, it's another thing finishing. I don't do anything fancy, just stop the shot and move on to the next thing."

Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) reached the 86kg final after beating Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the final, Valencia will face Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), who rallied to a 17-7 victory over Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) in the other semifinal.

Ishiguro, an 2023 Asian bronze medalist, fell behind 7-1 early on when he got caught in a lace lock. After chipping away at the lead with a pair of takedowns, he wrapped up the ankles and, with Magamadov apparently injuring a knee as he tried to resist, reeled off six rolls to end the match and make his first global final since winning the world U20 title in 2018.

Valencia and Ishiguro have met before, with the Japanese scoring an 11-0 victory in the semifinals of the 2023 Zagreb Open. But, Valencia said, that was then and this is now.

"I'm like, I don't even remember wrestling him," he said. "I know probably I've heard it from you guys that I lost, so I'm just going out there and wrestle how I've been wrestling. I just, I don't think anyone could stop me."

Zavur UGUEV (UWW) scores two points against Jaxen FORREST (USA) in the 61kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 61kg, it was experience over a very determined youth when Tokyo Olympic 57kg champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) forged a 10-3 victory over teen phenom Jax FORREST (USA) to earn a shot at a third career world title.

The 30-year-old Uguev used his wits to defend against everything the long-limbed high schooler threw at him, particularly when he pulled away with an eight-point second period.

Uguev gained the kind of 2-point exposures that come with international experience, once putting Forrest onto his back when the American got too high as he tried to go up and over on a counter. Another time, he masterfully caught the 18-year-old in a cradle.

"Many people were betting on the American -- he’s young, promising," Uguev said. "As they say, we’re already battle-tested wolves, we can feel the mat, we wrestle with experience. But I wish him good luck, he’s just at the beginning of his journey."

Uguev, who won back-to-back world golds at 57kg in 2018 and 2019 but finished fifth at the last two World Championships, was relieved to be back in a world final.

"I’m very happy, I’ve been working toward this medal, toward this World Championships, for a long time," Uguev said. "Tomorrow I’ll do everything possible to take the gold medal at this championships."

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In Sunday's final, Uguev will face Asian bronze medalist Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), who pulled a rabbit out of the hat by scoring a takedown with :03 left to stun Kum Hyok KIM (PRK) 3-2 in the second semifinal.

After giving up a stepout in the first period, Kim came back with a double-leg takedown to head into the break up 2-1. In the second period, Javan got Kim's leg up in the air, but was unable to finish the move and Kim continually fended off any further attempts.

But with the time ticking down, Javan snapped Kim down and spun behind for the winning takedown, setting off a roar of delight from the raucous Iranian supporters.

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) reached the final at 125kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran earned a second spot in the finals when two-time Olympic medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) outclassed Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) 7-3 at 125kg in the final bout of the evening, giving him a chance to add to his world titles from 2021 and 2023.

It was the third time Zare has beaten Sharipov in two years, most recently a 3-0 triumph in the quarterfinals at the Tirana Ranking Series tourney in February.

In the final, Zare will take on European champion Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), who scored an activity point in the first period and a stepout in the second to defeat Robert BARAN (POL) 2-0.

Returning silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), red, reached the 70kg final for a second year in a row. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 70kg, a rematch of the final at last year's Non-Olympic World Championships was spoiled when Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) knocked off defending champion Nurkosha KAIPANOV (KAZ) 5-2, setting up an all-Asian final with silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN).

Tumur Ochir, a 2021 world bronze medalist at 65kg, took a 2-0 lead in the first period with an activity point and a stepout, only to fall behind on criteria when Kaipanov opened the second period with a takedown. But the Mongolian went on the attack and came away with a stepout and takedown to complete a well-earned victory.

Earlier, Aoyagi repeated his victory in the final of the Budapest Ranking Series tournament over Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), right down to the final score of 8-0 thanks to a superfluous challenge at the end.

Aoyagi was leading 3-0 and well on the way to victory when Andreasyan tried to get behind and the Japanese locked his arms and dropped backwards for a 4-point throw. The Armenian side challenged, but to no avail.

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

61kg (26 entries)
SEMIFINAL - Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Jax FORREST (USA), 10-3
SEMIFINAL - Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) df. Kum Hyok KIM (PRK), 3-2

70kg (29 entries)
SEMIFINAL - Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 8-0
SEMIFINAL - Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) df. Nurkosha KAIPANOV (KAZ), 5-2

86kg (29 entries)
SEMIFINAL - Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), 7-0
SEMIFINAL - Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) df. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) by TF, 17-7, 3:50

125kg (27 entries)
SEMIFINAL - Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df Robert BARAN (POL), 2-0
SEMIFINAL - Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), 7-3

Mohammadian Closes Olympic Ticket for Iran; USA Shines at Poland Open

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Valencia stuns Ghasempour in semis; Uguev returns to final